10 Meatless Meatball Subs to Love

When you want something hearty and filling, a vegan meatball sub is a perfect option! Vegan meatballs smothered in a flavorful sauce between two warm slices of bread – what more could you ask for? Plus, there are so many different ways to make this cozy dish. You can use tempeh, seitan, beans, or a combination of them to create a tasty and tender vegan meatball that is sure to satisfy you. Convinced that a vegan meatball sub should be your next meal? Try making one of these delicious recipes!

We also highly recommend downloading the Food Monster App  — with over 20,000 delicious recipes it is the largest plant-based recipe resource to help you get healthy! 

1. Chickpea Quinoa Meatball Subs

Source: Chickpea Quinoa Meatball Subs

These Homemade Vegan Chickpea Quinoa Meatball Subs by Shanika Graham-White are truly special. They are the perfect rendition of the traditional New York Marinara Sub. Loaded with savory, spicy, and sweet flavors, these ‘meatball subs’ made from only veggies are moist, flavorful, and tender; wrapped in a toasted pretzel hot dog bun and topped with melted vegan mozzarella. This dish is the perfect meal for lunch or dinner for the entire family on any given day.

2. Walnut Portobello Meatball Subs

Source: Walnut Portobello Meatball Subs

Walnuts, Baby Bella mushrooms, savory spices, and fresh parsley are mixed with fresh bread crumbs to create these amazing meatballs. If that wasn’t good enough, they’re stuffed into a toasted roll with balsamic-glazed vegetables. The subs come together in about 30 minutes, so they’re perfect for a weeknight, weekend, or whenever dinner. You could easily bake up a batch over the weekend and reheat throughout the week. They would be perfect with pasta or on a pizza. You will love these Walnut Portobello Meatball Subs by Heather Poire!

3. Lentil Meatball Marinara Sandwich

Source: Lentil Meatball Marinara Sandwich

This carb-tastic recipe starts with veggie meatballs made from lentils, spiced with Italian herbs and spices and then baked so they’re a little crisp on the outside and warm on the inside. You could stop right there and enjoy them with pasta, but the best things in life are served on bread. They’re stuffed into a hoagie with a smear of savory marinara sauce, fresh basil sauce, and vegan cheese. Yum! You will love this Lentil Meatball Marinara Sandwich by Alex Edmondson!

4. Beanball Sub Sandwich With Marinara and Greens

Source: Beanball Sub Sandwich With Marinara and Greens

Are you looking for a hearty filling sandwich even meat lovers will drool over? Look no further than this Beanball Sub Sandwich With Marinara and Greens by Sophia DeSantis. Reminiscent of the true Italian classic, this much healthier version will not disappoint.

5. Bean Ball Sandwiches

Source: Bean Ball Sandwiches

Homemade Bean Ball Sandwiches by Wholesome LLC are tasty enough to win over even the pickiest eaters? Check.

6. Italian Refried Beanball Sub

Source: Italian Refried Beanball Sub

Need quick, no-fuss comfort food? This Italian Refried Beanball Sub by Melanie Sorrentino couldn’t be any easier. Refried beans are mixed with Italian seasoning and breadcrumbs, then rolled in even more bread crumbs before being fried until crispy and golden. Add them to a soft roll, then top with marinara sauce and plenty of savory sautéed onions and bell peppers.

7. Meatless Meatball-Sub

Source: Meatless Meatball-Sub

This Meatless Meatball-Sub by Alejandra Graf is so easy and yummy that you could eat them in a sub or over pasta.

8. Eggplant Meatball Parmesan Sub With Caramelized Onions

Source: Eggplant Meatball Parmesan Sub With Caramelized Onions

Pair your favorite vegan eggplant meatballs with a fresh sourdough hoagie, a heap of no-oil caramelized onions, and our homemade cashew parmesan. This Eggplant Meatball Parmesan Sub With Caramelized Onions by Jasmine Briones is sure to be a favorite among family and friends. It does not skimp out on flavor OR nutrition! It is packed with veggies and herbs, so you don’t want to miss out on this.

9. Meatball and Garlicky Greens Subs

Source: Meatball and Garlicky Greens Subs

These Meatball and Garlicky Greens Subs by Colorful Kitchen are packed full of flavor, all without the unhealthy additives of a traditional meatball sub. Topped with nutrient-rich garlicky greens, these subs will help you get your greens in!

10. Walnut and Mushroom Meatball Sub 

Source: Walnut and Mushroom Meatball Sub 

Craving a meatball sandwich will all of the flavor and none of the meat? This Walnut and Mushroom Meatball Sub by Gabrielle St. Claire is your recipe – it’s savory, slightly sweet from the red sauce, and gets texture and freshness from the walnuts and kale. Plus, this recipe is affordable and effortless.

Learn How to Cook Plant-Based Meals at Home!

Reducing your meat intake and eating more plant-based foods is known to help with chronic inflammation, heart health, mental wellbeing, fitness goals, nutritional needs, allergies, gut health, and more! Dairy consumption also has been linked to many health problems, including acne, hormonal imbalance, cancer, prostate cancer and has many side effects.

For those of you interested in eating more plant-based, we highly recommend downloading the Food Monster App — with over 15,000 delicious recipes it is the largest plant-based recipe resource to help reduce your environmental footprint, save animals and get healthy! And, while you are at it, we encourage you to also learn about the environmental and health benefits of a plant-based diet.

Here are some great resources to get you started:

• Weekly Vegan Meal Plans
• Plant-Based Health Resources
• Plant-Based Food & Recipes
• Plant-Based Nutrition Resources
• The Ultimate Guide to Plant-Based Nutrition
• Budget-Friendly Plant-Based Recipes
• High Protein Plant-Based Recipes
• Plant-Based Meal Prep

Easy Ways to Help the Planet:

• Eat Less Meat: Download Food Monster, the largest plant-based Recipe app on the App Store, to help reduce your environmental footprint, save animals and get healthy. You can also buy a hard or soft copy of our favorite vegan cookbooks.
• Reduce Your Fast Fashion Footprint: Take initiative by standing up against fast fashion Pollution and supporting sustainable and circular brands like Tiny Rescue that raise awareness around important issues through recycled zero-waste clothing designed to be returned and remade over and over again.
• Support Independent Media: Being publicly funded gives us a greater chance to continue providing you with high-quality content. Please consider supporting us by donating!
• Sign a Petition: Your voice matters! Help turn petitions into victories by signing the latest list of must-sign petitions to help people, animals, and the planet.
• Stay Informed: Keep up with the latest news and important stories involving animals, the environment, sustainable living, food, health, and human interest topics by subscribing to our newsletter!
• Do What You Can: Reduce waste, plant trees, eat local, travel responsibly, reuse stuff, say no to single-use plastics, recycle, vote smart, switch to cold water laundry, divest from fossil fuels, save water, shop wisely, Donate if you can, grow your food, volunteer, conserve energy, compost, and don’t forget about the microplastics and microbeads lurking in common household and personal care products!